Electroluminescent lamp shade and lamp structure



Och 1957 G. D. BROWN ,34

ELECTROLUMINESCENT LAMP SHADE AND LAMP STRUCTURE Filed on. 12. 1966 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Lima INVENTOR.

Oct. 24, 1967 G. D. BROWN 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 12, 1966 UnitedStates Patent 3,349,240 ELECTROLUMINESCENT LAMP SHADE AND LAMP STRUCTUREGeorge D. Brown, 7001 Bancroft St., Toledo, Ohio 43617 Filed Oct. 12,1966, Ser. No. 586,228 3 Claims. (Cl. 240-108) This invention relates tolamp structures equipped with shades and an object is to produce a lampstructure having an incandescent lamp. or a fluorescent lamp and inwhich the shade in addition to its normal use can be renderedluminescent, the shade being mounted in a unique manner on the structureso that electrical potential can be delivered to the shade through themounting device.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appearand, for purposes of illustration but not of limitation, embodiments ofthe invention are shown on the accompanying drawings, in which FIGURE 1is a bottom perspective view of a table lamp embodying the invention,part of the lamp shade being broken away to show the several plies ofthe electroluminescent structure;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the mountingof the lamp shade on one of the supporting arms; and

FIGURE 3 is a bottom perspective view of an alternate form employing afluorescent lamp instead of an incandescent lamp as shown on FIGURE 1.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a lamp structurehaving a base 10, from which rises a pedestal 11 on the top of which isa socket member 12. From the socket member arms 13 radiate. These aretubular arms and as shown three are provided, arranged in equidistantlyspaced relation. On the outer end portion of each of the arms 13 is anupwardly curved end portion 14, which supports a frustoconical shade 15in a manner hereinafter to be described.

The lamp shade 15 is of a unique, multiply construction and normallyserves the purpose usually assigned to a lamp shade, such as keeping theglare of the lamp from the eyes and directing the rays by reflectiontoward the adjacent area. In this instance the lamp shade is formed toserve as an electroluminescent surface to provide a night or dim lightand for this purpose the innermost ply 16 of the shade is formed ofelectrical insulating sheet material, such as an oriented polyester filmknown as Mylar and sold by E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. On the outerside of the ply 16 is the outer ply of sheet material 17, which consistsof foil of aluminum or other electrically conductive material servingboth as a conductor and a light reflector. On the outer side of the ply17 is a high dielectric layer 18 of barium titanate. Outside the layeror ply 18 is a ply 19 of electroluminescent material which can be acombination of any of the wellknown electroluminescent phosphors, suchfor example as zinc sulphide, with a suitable activator such as copperpowder held in an appropriate vehicle, such as epoxy resin. Otherphosphors, activators and vehicles can be used to effect differentdegrees of brightness, lamp life, and color. On the outer side of theply 19 is a ply 20, which consists of a conducting glass paper, such ascommercially available micro-fiber glass paper made conducting bydipping in a solution of a metal salt which upon drying and baking at anelevated temperature forms a conducting layer.

On the outside of the ply 20 is the outermost ply 21 of the multiplystructure and this ply is also plastic electrical insulating material,such as Mylar, and this ply is translucent and may contain whateverornamental design it 3,349,240 Patented Oct. 24, 1967 is desired todisplay. Reference is made to US. Patent 2,945,976 of July 19, 1960, formore complete description of such multiply structure. At the top andbottom of the lamp shade are non-luminous areas along the edges toaflord space for the attachment of the contact elements. It will beunderstood that the leads or contact elements connect respectively tothe plies 17 and 19.

FIGURE 2 shows a lead 22 connected to the ply 17 and the leads are inthe rim 23 of the shade, the rim being of electrical insulatingmaterial. The lead 22 is secured to a plate 24 in the base of ascrew-threaded socket into which a plug 25 is screwed. The plug 25 maybe what is known as a banana plug and has outwardly bowed spring arms26, which are releasably fitted into a cylindrical socket 27 in theadjacent arm end portions 14. Electrical current is fed to the socket 27through a lead 28 which is secured to the socket as indicated. Thesocket 27 is spaced from the respective arm end portion 14 by aninsulating sleeve 29, which is held in place by a set screw 30. It willthus be apparent that male and female connecting parts are providedenabling the shade to be readily applied to the arms, the mountingdevice being such as to enable the passage of electrical current to theelectroluminescent shade.

It will be understood that a similar lead for the ply 20 is provided andthis is associated with one of the other arms 13. It will be furtherunderstood that the third arm 13 has a similar banana plug connectionbut without any electrical current connection, this serving merely as asupport and a connecting device.

The lead 28 and the companion lead above mentioned extend through therespective arms 13, through the ped estal 11 and out from the base 10 asindicated, a manual switch 31 on the base controls the circuit includingthe above described leads.

On the socket member 12 is an adaptor 32 for receiving an incandescentbulb 33, an electrical circuit having a switch 34 controls the bulb 33and the leads for the same (not shown) extend through the pedestal 11and out through the base 10.

From the above it will be apparent that I have produced an exceedinglysimple and practical lamp which can be used as normally intended forillumination purposes but can also be employed as a night or subduedlight by manipulation of the switch 31 to cause the shade 15 to becomeluminescent. The unique manner in which the shade is connected to thelamp structure makes possible both the supporting and the electricalconnection for the same. In order to obtain the desired electricalconnections for the electroluminescent shade 15 it is merely necessaryto mount it on the arms of the lamp structure as above described andwhen in place not only is the shade properly supported but theelectrical connections are established through which theelectroluminescent feature is achieved.

FIGURE 3 shows an alternate form similar to that above described exceptinstead of employing an incandescent lamp bulb, a circular fluorescentlamp 35 is employed and this is held in position by spring clips 36 onthe arms 13. A plug 37 provides a detachable connection for the lamp 35and the leads 38 for the same pass through the respective arm, pedestal11 and base 10. On the base 10 is an upstanding container 39 for theballast for the fluorescent lamp, a switch 40 on the container 39enables the lamp 35 to be energized and the switch 31 on this containeris for the purpose of energizing the electroluminescent shade. Theremaining structure is as above described.

Numerous changes in details of construction, arrangement and selectionof materials may be eifected without departing from the spirit of theinvention especially as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A device of the class described comprising, in combination, a lampstructure having shade supporting sockets, a shade having a rim portionjuxtaposed to said sockets, said shade being of multiply structurehaving certain plies cooperating to render said shadeelectroluminescent, blade means on said rim portion for respectiveengagement with said sockets, certain of said blade and socket meansbeing electrically conductive so that when energized said shade isrendered luminescent, circuit means for delivering alternatingelectrical potential to said electrically conductive blade and socketmeans, and switch means for said circuit means.

2. A device of the class described as claimed in claim 1 in which saidlamp structure comprises radial arms termi- 4 nating in upwardlyextending end portions provided with said shade supporting sockets.

3. A device of the class described as claimed in claim 2 comprising alamp associated with said radial arms and generally covered by saidshade, circuit means for delivering alternating electrical potential tosaid lamp, and separate switch means for said last circuit means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,350,462 6/1944 Johns 240-2.252,945,976 7/1960 Fridrich et al. 313-108 NORTON ANSHER, PrimaryExaminer.

GARY HOFFMAN, Assistant Examiner.

1. A DEVICE OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A LAMPSTRUCTURE HAVING SHADE SUPPORTING SOCKETS, A SHADE HAVING A RIM PORTIONJUXTAPOSED TO SAID SOCKETS, SAID SHADE BEING OF MULTIPLY STRUCTUREHAVING CERTAIN PLIES COOPERATING TO RENDER SAID SHADEELECTROLUMINESCENT, BLADE MEANS ON SAID RIM PORTION FOR RESPECTIVEENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SOCKETS, CERTAIN OF SAID BLADE AND SOCKET MEANSBEING ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE SO THAT WHEN ENERGIZED SAID SHADE ISRENDERED LUMINESCENT, CIRCUIT MEANS FOR DELIVERING ALTERNATINGELECTRICAL POTENTIAL TO SAID ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE BLADE AND SOCKETMEANS, AND SWITCH MEANS FOR SAID CIRCUIT MEANS.